The purpose of this group is to develop an integrated
earth system model that can simulate these interactions, and provide
reliable predictions for the change of global climate.

Climate change, such as global warming, is an outcome of complex interactions
among climate, terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems, and chemical composition
of atmosphere. In current studies of climate change, atmospheric CO2
concentration is first calculated using carbon emission scenarios
and simple models of terrestrial and oceanic carbon budgets. The calculated
CO2 concentration is then substituted into
climate model, and predictions of climate are obtained. However, this
approach does not consider any feedbacks between climate and carbon
cycle; while increase of atmospheric CO2
concentration would cause global warming, and global warming could
in turn affects process of CO2 release and
uptake by terrestrial and oceanic ecosystems. For example, global
warming would enhance decomposition of terrestrial organic matters,
and thereby accelerating CO2 release from
land surface.

Moreover, climate change could also affect concentration of troposphere
ozone, which is another greenhouse effect gas. Therefore, in order
to provide reliable predictions of climate change, it is strongly
required that an integrated earth system model combines climate, carbon
cycle, and chemical composition of atmosphere. Coupling a dynamical
Ice sheet model would be also needed for a better prediction of sea
level change.